Wow! What a difference a year makes. Since my last posting, I have had nasal surgery (suspending my running program for several months), have participated in my First half marathon, moved into a new "old" house, and lost my dad to a heart attack.
In October last year, Sonya, Coker, Brent & I went to Myrtle Beach, SC to run the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon. It was the first half marathon for all of us. What an awesome experience! Mom, Daddy, Zoe, and Janet tagged along for support. After a rocky summer of missed training opportunities and a move to our new house loomed, I knew that I was really not prepared for 13.1 miles, but determined, I forged along & finished the race. Sonya and I stuck together for the whole race, running / walking intervals. I've heard of the "wall" that some runners get at about mile 9, and boy did we experience it!!!!
At mile 11, we saw our families standing along the side of the road to cheer us on. Seeing my sweet baby girl waving at me definitely gave me renewed spirit and determination.
As we were finishing the last 1/2 mile, our path took us down the boardwalk along the Myrtle Beach shore. A band playing beach music really made me feel like we were in the movie "Shag."
My final finish time was 3:11:52 - Place #2511. Hey - I finished & survived.....right?
Finish!!!
Check out our cool surfboard medals
Brent finished the race in just a little over 2 hours. He trained hard and had a good finish! My Dad was so proud of us for finishing the race! It was so awesome to have him there to celebrate our finish. Because he was so proud, he started wanting to train for a race to run with us. We had previously discussed running the Cooper River Bridge Run in 2012 as a family, and I think that the half marathon really got him excited about training.
The Next Run
Just before Christmas, Daddy had gotten a new iPhone, so I encouraged him to download and start training with the Couch to 5K app. He had mentioned wanting some gear, so I bought him a good pair of headphones and an armband for his phone. Daddy started his C to 5K program on January 2nd and seemed to be very excited about it. He never complained about the exercise and seemed to be enjoying it.
It Can't Be True!
On Friday, January 6th at 5:05pm CST, Brent got the call that no one ever wants to receive! My dad was dead. What? No way! It can't be! I had just talked to him on Wednesday, and he was doing fine - joking and giving me a hard time and doting on Zoe like always. When my mom got home from work on Friday, she found my dad laying in the floor beside the treadmill. He had apparently just finished his first week of C25K. He journaled his time, took his shoes off, neatly placed his headphones in their tray, and laid down on the floor to cool off. This was his normal routine. He often laid down on the floor to cool off after a run. When my mom walked into the room, which happens to be my old bedroom, she found him laying in his usual spot. At first she thought he had fallen asleep, but she quickly realized that he was not breathing. She tried to perform CPR, but it was just too late to do any good (which is weird to say as we have found out that she missed him by maybe less than 30 minutes). The coroner came to the house and determined that he had most likely died of a massive heart attack induced by the exercise. He died training for our family race - only 3 workouts into the program, at only 61 years old.
Mom & Dad in Cancun
Daddy at Zoe's adoption hearing
Mom & Dad - Myrtle Beach, SC
Pop & his Princess
Birthday girl & her Pop
Daddy was buried at Harmony Baptist Church in Edgemoor, SC alongside his Mom and Dad on Wednesday, January 11th. I eulogized him at the graveside service. It was probably one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my entire life! How do you sum up 35 wonderful years with a parent in just a few minutes? I was remarkably calm that day. I had been praying almost non-stop since I found out that he died, and I really feel like God gave me the strength and comfort to get through that day. I could feel my Daddy there right beside me every step of the way.
It's now been two weeks since Daddy died, and I am still having a hard time making sense of everything that has happened. I have turned to my faith in God to get me through this very difficult journey. There is no doubt in my mind that Daddy is in Heaven right now....... watching over us and feeling no pain or sorrow anymore.
What is most concerning about all of this is that my Dad had no signs and symptoms of heart disease. He was in his early 60's which is considered "young" for a person to die. Since his death, I have found out that his grandfather died in his mid 50's of a heart attack along with several uncles in their 60's. What does this mean to me? Well, heart disease can be caused by unhealthy lifestyle, but it is also largely genetic. This has been a HUGE wake-up call for me! I have got to lose some more weight, start my training program again, and start living a health lifestyle. I can't afford NOT to.
Honoring his Memory
Since my Dad was so excited about running the Cooper River Bridge 10K this year, my sister & I have set up a memorial team for the run to honor his memory. We are asking for anyone interested in running or walking the bridge to join our team in honor of Daddy. You can register for our team, "Pop's Posse" at
If you cannot attend the run but would still like to participate, we are also collecting donations for the American Cancer Society as he was a survivor of colon cancer. If you are interested in donating, you can access the memorial webpage at the follwing website:
http://www.active.com/donate/acscooper12/MByrd161
I am so excited about running this race in memory of my Dad! He would be so proud that we are continuing on in his footsteps. I know that he will be there with us in spirit as we cross over that bridge! I will be posting updates on this blog about the training process, our runs, and just information on how we are dealing with this great loss.
Something a friend told me recently - "Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal".
I will end with sentiments that my mom, sister, grandmother, and myself wrote about my dad. I hope you can see how truly exceptional he was. My dad was a wonderful man, husband, dad, Pop, and community leader. He will be greatly missed by the many people he touched!
Amanda's Thoughts
My Daddy was the most kind, generous man I ever knew. He would give the shirt off his back if we needed it. When I was little, Daddy would make us breakfast, close my blinds because I was scared, run my bath, clean up my vomit, anything.
As I grew older, he moved me a million times, would bring me soup when I was sick, and he just helped me more than anyone knew. Daddy was my Rock, my heart. There are too many memories to even list, but I’ll miss our dinner dates, our lunchtimes at the gym and just seeing his face. I’m going to miss his smell, the feel of his arms around me, and even his road rage and gruff personality. I already do. I love my Daddy more than anyone can fathom.
He was a very special man.
Grandma's Thoughts
Jimmy was a wonderful son-in-law. He was a good friend, and we watched NCIS together every day, something I learned to love, even though it drove Sherry crazy. He let me move in his house and take over his bathroom, and didn’t say a word about it. We would make a trek to the kitchen together late in the evening for an after-dinner snack. He helped me in my home, when I asked, and even when I didn’t ask. I loved him like a son- he was the only son I ever had. I will miss him greatly.
Mom's Thoughts
Jimmy and I would have celebrated our 39 anniversary on January 27 this year. He was a wonderful, loving husband and would do “almost” anything I asked of him. He took care of his family and his generosity extended out to my family and his family members and even to co-workers and others that I didn’t even know about until now. He was an extraordinary handyman and never stopped working around the house. He showed his love through his actions every day we were together.
He loved his girls more than they know. He worried about them and wanted what was best for them no matter how “grown up” they were. He loved his sons-in-law but was not afraid to tell them what they needed to do to take care of his girls. And he loved Zoe, his sweet granddaughter. When she came into our family, his heart softened and melted every time he talked to her.
He was generous and honest and true to his word. He always kept his promise. He loved to laugh and loved to tease anybody around him.
I don’t know how I can live without him but I know God’s grace and strength will help me through this time.
My Thoughts
My Dad was my mentor, best friend, confidant, and teacher. We were kindred spirits. I have so many wonderful memories of the 34 years we shared. Daddy has always been a wonderful father, but the last 13 years have been exceptional – words can’t even describe how our relationship grew in those last few years. He was a hard working man, who always did everything he could to give us everything we needed and wanted. He loved his family, his friends, his occupation, golf, wood, and the beach.
I have so many vivid memories of Daddy, that it was so hard for me to just come up with one or two. Some of my best memories as a child were running around the lumber yard – jumping off lumber, making “oatmeal” out of saw dust, playing in his desk drawer, and chasing the fork lift. To this day, I still get warm fuzzies when I walk through Lowes.
Before Brent & I got married, Daddy and I rented a U-Haul and drove all of my worldly possessions (car in tow) to Houston. Making that two day trek in a cramped truck made for some of the best memories. My most vivid memory – Approximately 40 miles outside Mobile, AL, our truck got very low on gas. There was nowhere to stop to fill up. As we crested a hill, the biggest bridge I had ever seen in my life sat in front of us. We were coasting on fumes, with the windows down. We literally moved our bodies back & forth to push the truck up that bridge, coasting down the other side & into a gas station just in time. We could not stop laughing or crying. When we got to the gas station, we bought a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts and ate the entire box as we drove through Mobile.
I have never seen Daddy happier than he was when Zoe was born. She was the apple of his eye. He came to Houston to visit her every chance he got. Daddy was able to be present for Zoe’s adoption hearing on August 15, 2009. I believe that was the happiest day of his life. I am so grateful that we have memories of that wonderful day that will live on through her. Equally, Zoe loved her Pop. He hung the moon! Every time they would talk (before we said our goodbyes) they would say, “I love you! No, I love you more! NO, I love you most!” I will never forget those words.
Daddy called me at least twice a week during the day – usually at around 2pm. We usually just caught up on what was going on with Zoe, mom, grandma, and Amanda. I cherish all of those calls. I had recently talked him into buying an iPhone, so he seemed to call much more often – sometimes several times a day to get help operating it. Our last big conversation was last week. He called me one afternoon, and we talked for at least 45 minutes (which was a rarety). We talked about everything! I think this was God’s way of giving us the opportunity to really say all the things we needed to before he went Home.
As I stand here today, I feel a strange sense of comfort. I can feel him standing by me and guiding me. I love him more than words can explain! What brings me comfort in this difficult time is knowing that I will see my Dad again one day. I know he will be there to hold my hand when it’s my time to come Home.
To my sweet, sweet Daddy,
I will miss you so much! This world will not be the same without you. Last night’s visitation was a testament to what a wonderful man you were. You will never be forgotten.
Sleep Tight – Don’t let the bed bugs bite! & always know that I LOVE YOU MOST!
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